Because Venezuela is in the midst of an economic crisis, procedures that are often a last resort in the battle against breast cancer, like mastectomies, are being favored over more modern standards of care, like radiation and less-invasive surgery, reports AP Online.

I am a loyal fan of The Big C. It is beautiful in its poignant portrayal of a woman living with cancer, yet deeply flawed in its characterization of a young black woman. I'm talking about Gabourey Sidibe's character, Andrea. Of course, the fact that actresses like Sidibe are given supporting roles in shows about…